Police Investigate Disturbing Allegation of Rape at Palm Centre

The Palm Centre is a residential psychiatric facility currently housing thirty-five patients, primarily persons that have been de-institutionalized from the Rockview Hospital, but have nowhere else to go and no family to care for them. The facility is currently in the centre of a Police investigation after disturbing allegations of a rape last week. Police details are scarce, but today the Palm Centre’s administrator, Michelle O’Brien, confirmed that there was an incident which occurred at the facility on August thirty-first…an incident they call a patient to patient alleged rape.

Mike Rudon

“We understand…maybe you could just confirm it…that it was a young person in his twenties who allegedly raped an elderly person in her eighties.”

Michelle O’Brien, Administrator, Palm Centre

“Yes, that is the case. I am unable to provide additional personal details, but yes.”

Michelle O’Brien

Mike Rudon

“Well we wouldn’t ask for them anyway, but in terms of supervision—that is the first question that the public would ask. How is it that something like that could happen in an area that is supposed to be strictly supervised at all times?”

Michelle O’Brien

“This is a first incident of its kind that has been reported and we have the usual staff there. We always try to ensure that we are adequately staffed; however, unfortunately, even when we try to put measures in place to ensure that incidents like these—and this is the first one that occurred unfortunately—I believe this occurred in maybe the split of a second because everyone, who was to be at work, was there, including the security officer. We normally would have in the evening, maybe around six o’clock, we have the administration of medication and I think maybe when the patients are lined up and they are administering this medication, this is the only time that I can see such an incident occurring.”

Mike Rudon

“The layout of the area, in terms of the nurses supervision….I’d just like a little more detail in terms of you are saying they were lined up to receive medication. Explain to us how these two patients could have interacted in that time and maybe you can give us, without giving us personal information, was one of them in a room when another one entered? Was it in a corner? Was it in the bathroom? Anything like that you could tell us?”

Michelle O’Brien

“Okay, there is one area that is assigned to patient where we have the patiental coves and as well as the patient dining area and the nursing station. The restroom is in that area as well. So normally these patients would be on the patio and around six o’clock, this male was in the facility because there was an earlier incident with him and another one having a little altercation. So he was sitting in the facility by the nursing station, under supervision. The other patients were called in to get their medication and according to the reports, it was during that time while they were lined up. So the nursing station is in the center of the area where these residents sleep and where they do their daily eating and recreation.”

Reporter

“So there was an incident before with the same young man that same day when the rape?”

Michelle O’Brien

“Yes.”

Mike Rudon

“Ma’am, but I am still trying to get to the details. You explained all of that just now, but what we get is that the person who allegedly did the act was sitting there, being supervised by the nursing station and the other person was where?”

Michelle O’Brien

“The other person was on the patio.”

Mike Rudon

“So the person then left supervision and went on to the patio and that’s where the incident occurred?”

Michelle O’Brien

“Not according to our reports; hence the reason it is still under investigation from the police and we are still assessing our measures and reviewing our reports to see how we can increase staff vigilance.”

There has been no arrest, so the alleged rapist and alleged victim are still patients at the Palm Centre. O’Brian says that in the short term staff at the centre are ensuring that both are kept far away from each other while the investigation is ongoing.

Viewers please note: This Internet newscast is a verbatim transcript of our evening television newscast. Where speakers use Kriol, we attempt to faithfully reproduce the quotes using a standard spelling system.

Hello , I am 20 and I was adopted when I was 14.I was lucky to see my birth mom every year in a mental institution in Belmopan called the Palm Centre Hospital.I see my mom,Mary Castillo every year from the UK.the problem is that this year on the 26th December 2015 I haven been told that she has been missing.She has been gone over a year ago and I knew nothing about it. The Palm Centre had my address in the Uk and phone number.The story That they told me has errors and I feel in my heart that something has gone wrong ,especially if it has been a year and they haven’t let me know .i have sent her birthday cards and mothers day cards,thinking that she was safe. After being told that she was missing my adopted mom and i went to the police station in Belmopan because I knew this wasn’t right.The police told me That they found bones around the area and they are not sure if it is hers.I have to come back on Monday to give a DNA test.Please help me! My mom and I have been through so much pain together,I would hate to know that she has suffered while I was away not knowing.If you can tell me if she is dead or alive? Well or not? Maybe answers on what really happened to her,I would be so grateful?please help me? We are leaving tomorrow and we still have no answers from anyone.We tried communicating with the police in Belmopan and Belize City,we have been sent on a whiled goose chase.Siera Hodgson.